---
title: Increase The Predicted Energy Efficiency of Homes and Commercial Buildings
description: A SIP building envelope has an extremely high whole wall R-Value and low levels of air infiltration, reducing the overall loads for heating or air conditioning equipment in the home.
---

[Premier SIPS Blog ](https://sips.premierbuildingsystems.com/blog)

# [Increase The Predicted Energy Efficiency of Homes and Commercial Buildings](https://sips.premierbuildingsystems.com/blog/increase-the-predicted-energy-efficiency-of-homes-and-commercial-buildings)

 Written by [Premier SIPS](https://sips.premierbuildingsystems.com/blog/author/premier-sips) | Jan 4, 2011 7:59:53 PM

By Jeff Beason, Premier SIPs SouthWest Regional Sales Manager, LEED GA

Increase the predicted energy efficiency of homes and commercial buildings by 30% over ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2004.  (ICC) approved the changes in October 2010…the largest single-step efficiency increase in the history of the national, model energy code. Available for jurisdictions to adopt in April 2011, when the 2012 IECC is published.

New requirements:

- Addition of a continuous air barrier
- HVAC economizers in more climate zones
- Lighting control systems that respond to daylight and occupancy needs
- Basic commissioning for building systems to ensure they are running at peak efficiency

Residential requirements:

- Increased window performance
- Increased insulation requirements
- Better duct-sealing measures
- Greater lighting efficiency
- The fact that builders will now have to prove air tightness achievement with a blower-door test was particularly controversial.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs):  A SIP building envelope has an extremely high whole wall R-Value and low levels of air infiltration, reducing the overall loads for heating or air conditioning equipment in the home. According to Oakridge National Lab, our 6” SIP is 58% more energy-efficient than normal 2×6 framing with R-19 insulation and 15 times tighter.

[Premier SIP](https://www.pbssips.com)s can help you move towards the path to net zero energy building.  And from a performance standpoint…for more than 30 years [SIPs have the proven performance over stick framing](https://www.pbssips.com/about-premier-sips/vs-traditional-construction/). As the nation’s largest and one of the oldest manufacturers we have the track record and experience to manufacture you a superior product, backed by the largest parent company in the industry (Carlisle Construction Materials).

For more information:

- [International Code Council](http://www.iccsafe.org/Pages/default.aspx)
- [New Buildings Institute](http://www.newbuildings.org/)
- [Institute for Market Transformation](http://www.imt.org/)
- [Premier SIPs](https://www.pbssips.com)

[View full post](https://sips.premierbuildingsystems.com/blog/increase-the-predicted-energy-efficiency-of-homes-and-commercial-buildings)

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